Tala
Bathala reminded us that there are things that we cannot mess and interfere with but allowed us to go.
As excited as I was, our initial arrival did not go smoothly. Time stopped for a few seconds, we appeared at the mall... and a passing couple immediately bumped us. "Ano ba, wag nga kayong basta titigil sa daan?"
Sasagutin ko sana eh, but the Prince of Crops stopped me. "O, relax. You want to do good for them, di ba?"
"Pwede bang hindi sila kasama?"
"Behave. Wala pa tayong two minutes dito." He led me away while I continued to give an evil eye to the rude couple. "Saan ka kumuha ng matitirahan natin? Ikaw nag-ayos this time, di ba?"
"Oo... Ah... so ayun na yung broker sa coffee shop. Tara!"
He gave me a confused look, which I avoided because he would find out soon enough anyway.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Dela Cruz," I greeted the real estate broker I met previously. "Ready na ba yung condominium unit that we will be moving into?"
"Yes, Mrs. Guinto. Ready na po lahat. Here are the keys. I just need you and your husband to sign some papers and the unit is all yours for the year."
The broker turned away and Mak looked at me, "Misis?"
"Ah... umm... oo. Kunyari asawa mo ako."
"Kasi?"
"Wala. We've never pretended to be married before."
Mak raised an eyebrow. "O, eh ano ngayon?"
"Wala. Wag ka na makialam. Let's just sign and move in para makapag-plan na tayo ng good deeds natin."
He wanted to tease me further but noted a growing irritation in my expression. I massaged my temples and muttered, "Ang kukulit niyo! Ang kukulit niyo!"
"What's going on?
"Ang daming nagwiwish na manalo sa lotto! Ang taas na daw ng prize. Para namang pwede kong pagbigyan. Hindi naman ako namimigay ng winning lotto ticket."
Mak chuckled. "Halika na, tapusin na natin ito."
*
We entered our unit and I started punching him. "Ikaw! Kanina ka pa! Nakaka-dami ka na!!!"
"You started it! I just helped you play the part!"
After meeting the broker, we decided to go to a nearby hospital and check if there were volunteer positions that we could take. "Bakit kayo naghahanap?"
"Gusto kasi naming tumulong dati pa. At nung ikasal kami, naisip namin that it's time to give back? Mabait kasi sobra itong Mister ko," I said, dreamily looking into Mak's face. It was in that moment, with him looking down lovingly at me, I decided to kiss him on the side of his lips.
His eyes registered some surprise, but he immediately put his arm around me and pulled me closer. "I love you." Then, he kissed my nose.
"Nakakakilig naman kayo," the Human Resources officer said. "Well, we have some areas where you might be interested in."
We decided to help out with children and the elderly. After that, we headed to some foundations where we made donations and then offered our time, giving them the same script. Mak kept placing kisses on my cheek, nose and ears... Nakakakiliti.
Nagprotest ako. "Hoy. Tama na. Kiss ka ng kiss."
He apologized then stopped.
Kaya lang, I started to look for it. So, ako naman ang nagkiss, especially when an employee in the foundation, who was giving us a briefing, seemed to be flirting with him.
"Okay po ba yun sa inyo, Sir?" She asked batting her eyelashes at him.
Dukutin ko kaya yan. I moved closer and kissed Mak's lower jaw. "Uwi na tayo, please?"
"Hindi pa tapos yung sinasabi niya," Mak noted.
I moved closer and whispered. "Uuwi na tayo at ititigil mo ang pag flirt sa kanya or else gagawin kong popcorn yang golden crop mo."
He bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. He then cupped my face and kissed both my cheeks. Turning to the lady, "Sorry, Miss. Uuwi na kami nitong Mahal ko."
I felt like adding. "We're newlyweds eh. He's mine."
Mak seemed thrilled and kept kissing me while pulling me close as we walked away. "Halika nga dito. Pakiss."
"Hoy, tama na."
"Nakatingin pa sila."
The halls were deserted but I let him. We have to keep up pretenses, bakit ba.
We did not need to sleep but we retreated to our separate rooms. But before we parted, he gave me a sweet, "Good night, Tala. I look forward to the beautiful sky tonight."
I nodded.
When he closed his door, I pouted, walang good night kiss?
I approached his door and almost knocked, but decided against. I walked to my room and tried to tune in to those calling to the stars tonight. But a minute later, I found myself facing Mak's door again. Then, retreated again. The next time I went out, "AAAAAHHHH. Bakit ka nandiyan?!" I screamed at Mak.
"Rinig ko kaya yung pag pace around mo? What's bothering you?"
"Ah... ano... Wala."
"Tala."
"Kasi... ano..." I decided that it was pointless to lie to someone who has know me for over a million years. "...bakit wala akong good night kiss."
Mak chuckled. "Akala ko ba ayaw mo?"
"Ang sabi ko, nakakadami ka na! Hindi ko sinabing tumigil ka."
"Ganun ba?"
"Putcha, paguusapan lang ba natin ito o ikikiss mo ako?"
He kissed me on the forehead, on the nose, on both my cheeks, on each side of my lips and then my hands. "Good night. Wag mong awayin yung mga nagwiwish ha?"
Mangaaway? Ako?
"Starlight, starbright... Alam ko, dinadaan daanan niya lang ako sa school and she barely looks at me, pero baka pwedeng maging crush din ako ng crush ng bayan sa school kahit sobra kong nerd?" A teenage boy wished.
"Cute ka eh. Magiging crush ka din nun. Wag ka mawalan ng pagasa!" I whispered. "Ano pang gusto mo? Manalo ng lotto? Taya ka sa number..." He did not hear me but I chatted with him and he slept at peace. "Hay ang saya saya today! Kasi may nagawa kaming mabuti."
Yes, yun lang. It was great to help out. Yun lang. Yun lang talaga. I did not spend every other moment thinking of Mak's kisses. Not at all.
Soft lips.
Nope.
How would that feel on my lips?
Nope.
Shit bakit ba hindi natutulog ang deities.
